The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-05-01

was supplied by Drs.. Hendrickson
and W. Carey Crane, the latter then
living in Desoto county, Mississippi.
The Rev. Mr.. Drane remained pas
tor of the church till the spring
OF 1862, when he accepted a call to
, the church at Canton, Miss, and re-
moved to that place. During the pas
torate of Mr.. Drane the church was
greatly prospered, a large number
having been received by baptism and
letter, among whom were many OF
the most substantial members the
church has had since its organization.
After Mr.. Drane leftin 1862 the Rev.
s. II. Ford, LII. d., now Of st. Louis,
Mo-, supplied the pulpit till the oc-
cupation OF Memphis by the Federal
army, june 9th, when he departed
for the South. For some time after
this the church remained closed.
The members were scattered, the
minister gone. No services being
held in the house, the military au-
thorities of the Union army took
possession of the building for hos
pital purposes, and it was so used for
a time. The persistent efforts of a
few members who were here were at
length successful III regaining pos
session of it. By this occupation
the house was greatly damaged, and
could not be used as a place of wor-
ship till it had been thoroughly re-
paired, a work which cost several
thousand dollars. This expenditure
was finally repaid by the United
States Government. In the spring
of 1868 the church was informed that
unless the services OF pastor were
secured, that the American Baptist
Home Mission Society, then located
at Philadelphia, Pa, would send a
preacher to take charge of the
house. After receiving this inform
ton, the church correspondent with
the Rev. Barksdale, then of Helena,
Ark, with a view to his supplying
them, but he declined to undertake
the work. They then invited the
Rev. A. b. Miller, then pastor of
the church at Greensboro, KY, to
visit them, which he did. 1t deemed
wise to give him a call, which was
done, and he agreed to accept and
remove to Memphis, on condition
that the call should be a permanent
one. He began his labor as pastor
here about the LIST of June, 1853,
and remained in that relation till
January l, 1868. During the pastor
ate of this minister the church
was greatly blessed. A large
number of persons were received
into its fellowship, both by baptism
andsletter. From a mere handful
of hearers at the beginning OF his la
bors. The house was soon crowded
with anxious listeners. The church
never had more useful and accept
able pastor. In the summer of 1865
the Rev. ID. Il. Burns, then pastor OF
the Coliseum Baptist Church, New
Orleans, La, was called to take
charge of the church. He accepted
and entered upon the work before
him at once. With ability and great
acceptance, he discharged the
duties of the position till No.
yember, 1870, when he died
mourned by his church and lamented
by the community. Mr.. Burns was
man gifted with wonderful powers
of eloquence, and won upon the
community by his amiability of char
acter. In April, 1871, the Rev. J,
T. ,Tichenor, OF Montgomery, Ala,
was called to the pastorate of the
church and faithfully performed the
functions of his office till May 1,
1872, when, having been elected
president of the Agricul-
tural and Mechanical college
of Alabama, he returned to
that State, which seemed never
weary of hcaping honors upon her
adopted son. In May, 1872, Rev. DR..
George A. Loftop, then Of Dalton,
Ca, was called to become pastor
here. He served in this relation till